VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Central Java Police's Mobile Brigade Corps conducted a security drill to rehearse the handling of likely terror acts at Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java.

Central Java Police Mobile Brigade Corps Deputy Commander Adjunct Senior Commissioner Arif Agung remarked that the security drills are conducted for the year-end holiday period during Christmas and New Year's Day.

"For the Christmas and New Year's Day (holiday period), we conduct a simulation at places of interest or tourism attractions designated as priorities to ensure that we could anticipate events considered as acts of terrorism," Agung stated here, Saturday.

He noted that apart from the Mobile Corps, the special anti-terror corps Gegana Detachment, Magelang Police, Borobudur Conservation Office, and tourism site operator PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko (PT TWC), are involved in the security simulation.

"Our collaboration in the simulation is because (handling) conditions at Borobudur Temple would involve all parties, from the initial security response and security of other objects, which requires cooperation with other stakeholders," the police unit head remarked.

Agung said some security scenarios rehearsed during the simulation are hostage rescue and bomb defusal that reflect the terror acts that might occur at the tourist attraction.

Apart from the Borobudur Temple, the police unit will also organize a security simulation at train stations in Semarang, the province's capital, on Sunday (December 18).

"We will also organize a security simulation on Sunday in Semarang. (The drills) will focus on public places because it will be crowded during the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday period," Agung stated.

Meanwhile, PT TWC's Borobudur Unit General Manager Jamaludin Mawardi remarked that a security drill should be organized at the tourism site since Borobudur Temple is one of the national objects of vital importance.

"I believe the security simulation is appropriate, particularly with the recent suicide bombing that occurred in Bandung," Mawardi remarked while referring to the December 7 suicide bombing at the Astanaanyar police office, Bandung, West Java.

The security drill would complement the need to enhance security at the Borobudur Temple site during the period when tourist numbers are expected to peak, he said.

The general manager noted that the security simulation demonstrated the commitment of Borobudur Temple operators and all relevant stakeholders to maintain security at the tourism site during the holiday period. (Antaranews)